Complaints from the health-care industry that the FDA is too slow in approving new drugs and devices are not rare. Now it appears that venture capitalists are putting their money toward streamlining how the FDA approves medical devices, reports the New York Times.

Minnesota representative Erik Paulsen is currently sponsoring a bill to smooth the FDA's approval process of devices, making the process less uncertain. He argues that the current system is stifling investment that will cost states 400,000 jobs.

The bill seems to have the backing of industry lobbyists. The New York Times reports, "Mr. Paulsen's campaign committee took in $74,000 from people with a stake in device regulation, much of it from executives affiliated with venture capital funds and their spouses."

The device industry is lobbying for change because they argue the FDA experiences high personnel turnover, cumbersome bureaucracy, and a system that requires start-up firms to run new and costly tests that often duplicate past efforts.

One lobbying group, National Venture Capital Association, has donated about $350,000 in 2010 for devices, drugs, and health care, according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Congress must reauthorize a law that requires medical device makers to pay fees to the FDA for their operating costs, and this upcoming year is an opportunity for a regulatory change. Paulsen's bill is not alone. House Republicans have introduced 10 bills just this October to speed up the FDA's approval process of devices.

If one of the bills is successful, it could be a boon to many device makers. For a closer look at the firms, we list the 10 largest firms involved with medical devices.